Queen’s diamond jubilee: All you need to know about Her Majesty

With the Queenâs diamond jubilee celebrations already under way, Metro tells you all you need to know about Her Majesty…

The Queen celebrates her diamond jubilee this year (Picture: PA)

It’s a busy job, being the Queen. You might think that after spending 60 years in the job, there might be some time for taking it easy. No chance.

We may get an extra bank holiday celebrating the 60 years since her coronation on June 2, 1953 but that doesnât mean the lady herself does.

The Queen has a busy schedule for her diamond jubilee celebrations.At the end of this month, she and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, will begin a tour taking them across Britain over the next four months. Other royals will make trips abroad.

Various diamond jubilee events have been taking place: this week, three British towns â Chelmsford in Essex, Perth in Scotland and StÂ Asaph in Wales were awarded city status. However, the main diamond jubilee celebrations are on the first weekend of June â a double bank holiday weekend.

On Saturday, June 2, the Queen will be at the Epsom Derby, while the following day, the Big Jubilee Lunch will see street parties across Britain.On the same day, up to 1,000 boats, including the royal barge with the Queen on board, will be part of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

A televised concert at Buckingham Palace will be the centre of celebrations on Monday, June 4, with a line-up including Ed Sheeran, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Jessie J and Stevie Wonder.

A Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St Paulâs Cathedral the next day, with the Queenâs carriage procession.

The diamond jubilee logo was designed by 11-year-old Katherine Dewar, from Chester.

Her work was chosen from 35,000 entries to a competition run by BBC TV show Blue Peter.

Did you know? Top Queen facts

-The Queen was born at 17 Bruton Street, London W1 on April 21, 1926. However, her official celebrations are in June.

-She hosts more than 50,000 people at events at Buckingham Palace every year.

-She has owned more than 30 corgis during her reign- her first was a dog called Susan who was an 18th birthday present in 1944.

-The Queen has given out more than 400,000 honours and awards.

-She sent her first email in 1976 from an army base.

- The Queen is fluent in French, which she sometimes uses for state visits.

- The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have been married for 64 years.

- When she was two years old, Winston Churchill said of the future queen: ‘She has an air of authority and reflectiveness astonishing in an infant.’

- The Queen has sat for 129 portraits during her reign, one of which was Rolf Harris.

- The Queen has 30 godchildren.

- She has made 261 official overseas visits, including 96 state visits, to 116 countries.

- There have been six Popes during the Queen’s reign.

- She has visited Austrailia 18 times, Canada 22 times, New Zealand 10 times and Jamaica six times.

- The Queen has about 25 race horses. Her colours are purple gold, scarlet and black and were used by King Edward VII. One of his most successful horses was called Diamond Jubilee.